| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: whose only other asset was the time-defying body of her
old father? Sure of his forbearance in the strength of
his love for her, he accepted, with stately serenity,
Massy's stupidly cunning paragraphs against his in-
competence, his dishonesty, his drunkenness, for the sake
of other stringent stipulations. At the end of three
years he was at liberty to withdraw from the partner-
ship, taking his money with him. Provision was made
for forming a fund to pay him off. But if he left the
Sofala before the term, from whatever cause (barring
death), Massy was to have a whole year for paying.
End of the Tether |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Vendetta by Honore de Balzac: by way of a parting consolation.
Seeing that smile, which threw a new light on Ginevra's features, the
stranger forgot all else for an instant.
"To-morrow," he said, sadly; "but to-morrow, Labedoyere--"
Ginevra turned, put a finger on her lips, and looked at him, as if to
say: "Be calm, be prudent."
And the young man cried out in his own language:
"Ah! Dio! che non vorrei vivere dopo averla veduta?--who would not
wish to live after seeing her?"
The peculiar accent with which he pronounced the words made Ginevra
quiver.
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